Sword Aura to the Heavens-Chapter 400 - 395: Breaking Through the Formation

"You are quite the sentimental person." The young man smiled as he looked ahead, pausing when his gaze rested on somewhere in the distance, he murmured: "A nobleman has arrived."

Liu Qingwu followed his gaze and saw a handsome nobleman standing in the air, accompanied by a great cultivator.

"Ye Yunke." Liu Qingwu thought to herself.

"I didn't expect the Seventh Prince to come to Jade City."

Ye Yunke seemed aware of her gaze, looked over, and nodded at Liu Qingwu with a gentle smile, graceful and elegant.

Liu Qingwu was taken aback, then realized and responded with a courteous smile, and even after Ye Yunke looked away, her heart was still somewhat stirred.

The Seventh Prince was indeed as rumored—courteous to everyone, respecting the wise and valuing talents—a remarkable person. However, his ambition to achieve the throne...

Liu Qingwu thought to herself, he, Ye Yunke, was not suitable.

By Ye Yunke's side, the middle-aged man was Prince Puyang, the Alien King of Da Li. He commented, "Does Your Highness know him?"

"Cultivators from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion admire my Imperial Brother." Ye Yunke smiled, "Though it's quite normal; like my Imperial Brother, a cultivator with unparalleled talent and esteemed status naturally has countless admirers."

However, his Imperial Brother had no interest in women.

"Sir, do you believe anyone can challenge the time needed by my Imperial Brother back then?" Ye Yunke asked.

"No one." Prince Puyang replied.

"Seems Sir also thinks it's hard to surpass my Imperial Brother." Ye Yunke laughed, "But I heard that three years ago, someone took only half an incense. Yet, the way he ascended was strange?"

"Indeed." Prince Puyang nodded, "That person is still in the White Jade Academy. It's rumored he wasn't there to seek the Dao, and apparently, he 'walked' up."

"Walked up?" Ye Yunke looked at Prince Puyang.

"Yes, walked up." Prince Puyang nodded, "Step by step, without encountering any obstacles, but some say the array was open."

"Interesting." Ye Yunke smiled, "Let's go up later and meet that wonder."

"Does Your Highness also wish to seek the Dao at White Jade Academy?" Prince Puyang asked curiously.

"No..." Ye Yunke shook his head and smiled, "I intend to visit. If I seek the Dao there and can't ascend, wouldn't that be embarrassing? What does Sir think?"

Prince Puyang paused, shaking his head, "Your Highness certainly would ascend."

Ye Yunke smiled without speaking further, his gaze continued toward the staircase.

By this time, talents from various places were ascending the staircase. On the stairs, a heavy force descended, spreading to the surrounding area.

Yet, those at the forefront didn't stop at all; Yue Yunxiao and Shen Jing walked in the lead, like two sharp swords, ascending with sword-like momentum. If they maintained such speed, the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps would be a mere instance for them.

"So fast." Many people exclaimed inwardly.

Also a Sword Cultivator, Chu Jiankuang was slower, but his transformed sword seemed heavier, Sword Aura surrounded him as he steadily advanced. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes seemed to hold a sword.

Below the staircase, Li Fan looked upward and saw outside the Heavenly Gate, White Jade Academy cultivators stepping into the array, arranging in different positions.

Soon after, within the staircase array, sword lights resplendent, Yue Yunxiao and Shen Jing halted, their bodies erupting with radiant Sword Aura, as endless Sword Intent surged toward them.

"The beginning of seeking the Dao." The crowd watched the scene seriously, only now did it truly count as seeking the Dao.

The Sword Intent paused them briefly but didn't stop them from advancing; they continued upward, transforming into swords, forming a Sword Veil around them.

Below the staircase, Li Fan also looked upward. Was that Sword Intent conjured by students of White Jade Academy using the array?

"Half an incense?"

Li Fan muttered to himself, having overheard the surrounding discussions; nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, even walking step-by-step took considerable time, unless one directly used Sword Control. Even with resistance, entering the Heavenly Gate within half an incense, how strong must the Da Li prince be?

"Want to try?" Li Fan asked two people beside him.

"Yes." Lu Yuan nodded.

"Then, let's go." Li Fan spoke softly, based on what he had heard, the three of them entering the White Jade Academy should be no problem.

Entering the Heavenly Gate only granted eligibility for White Jade Academy.

Li Fan stepped onto the staircase, unlike Shen Jing, he didn't transform into a sword but walked upward, feeling the oppressive force from the array. As he progressed, the pressure increased but posed no hindrance to him. His steps were swift despite seeming slow, quickly covering three hundred steps.

"Hmm?" Someone noticed Li Fan and showed a look of surprise; three hundred steps was a threshold. Many Sword Cultivators from Lingxiao Pavilion had entered the array earlier but hadn't reached this point, yet Li Fan seemed to walk effortlessly.

"Who is that?" Someone queried curiously.

"Not sure, but reaching this point is almost enough." Another person said.

"Is it him?" Liu Qingwu from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion also noticed Li Fan. Did he intend to join White Jade Academy?

However, wanting didn't mean being able to.

Li Fan didn't care about external opinions; he continued forward, but at this moment, a furious pressure surged from the array, like a figure rushing at him.

Li Fan's expression darkened as he looked up, seeing a massive figure charging at him; this figure seemed to be Martial Intent of a Martial Arts Practitioner, or Martial Spirit, several yards tall, with each step exuding a suppressive force.

Li Fan gazed toward the shadow, seemingly seeing the person behind the shadow, White Jade Academy's student?

"The array is indeed fascinating; White Jade Academy students can use the array to press those seeking the Dao." Li Fan thought inwardly.

Moreover, the ability shown seemed tailored to the seeker's capability.

Seeking the Dao at White Jade Academy, so it was.

"Go down."

A shout exploded in Li Fan's mind, but Li Fan remained unmoved, his body shimmered with golden light, dragon roars resounded, his qi and blood soared.

"You want to stop me?" Li Fan said aloud, continuing to step forward, the staircase shook violently, affecting those around, part of seeking the Dao.

"Qi and blood like a dragon, who is this elder?" Below, cultivators looked towards Li Fan, seeing his body shine with Golden Body, dazzlingly intense, without slowing down, calmly advancing as before.

"It can't stop him…"

The farther Li Fan advanced, the stronger the pressure grew, as if the giant stood right before him, making Li Fan quite uncomfortable.

"Yield." Li Fan shouted, stepping forward, the staircase trembled, he swung a punch forward, thud… the array's barrier seemed penetrated by supreme force, that punch pierced the large shadow, causing it to gradually dissipate into void.

"So domineering." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Increasingly more cultivators noticed Li Fan's presence; he advanced like the Major Saint Heirs, vigorously upward, speed unchanged.

"Interesting."

Amidst the crowd, Qi Tian Pavilion's owner Yang Tai watched Li Fan amusedly, this youth seemed very young, yet he was already in the Dao Body Realm, previously blocking Shen Jing's sword barehanded, now forcefully ascending. Besides Qi Tian Pavilion, which major or noble family cultivated such a gifted Martial Arts Practitioner?

Certainly not the court; noble family's descendants from the Da Li capital seemingly hadn't come.

As Li Fan continued ascending, he soon reached the middle of the staircase. The oppressive force from the array grew ever stronger, leaving few cultivators able to proceed further.

Not far ahead of Li Fan was a figure, Qi Zhanyun of Qi Tian Pavilion. He seemed to notice Li Fan, turned to glance, and laughed: "Coming fast. Since we're both Martial Arts Practitioners, shall we compete to see who reaches the Heavenly Gate faster?"

"Sure." Li Fan readily consented, continuing upward. People saw that not only did he not slow down, he actually sped up, drawing surprised expressions from the crowd.

Was he holding back earlier?

Li Fan quickly caught up.

Qi Zhanyun was surprised too, then laughed heartily, striding forward, his body resonating with the sound of Dao, his bones crackling loudly, his competitive spirit ignited.

"Boom." Qi Zhanyun took a step, accelerating upward, both had ferocious momentum, pushing up together, chasing the foremost group.

Ahead was a figure progressing, the new generation Saint Heir of Tiandu Palace. At that moment, an intangible force surged from behind, he frowned, glancing behind him.

The previous Saint Heir was killed by Wen Ruyu. As successor, seeking the Dao at White Jade Academy was for gaining fame; couldn't let others surpass him.